CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
For over a hundred years, the Dufferin Hospital has provided women of the low-income group with high quality obstetric and gynaecological services at highly subsidized rates or free of cost. 80% of the patients are treated at subsidized rates, 10% free of cost and only 10% are private patients. The most outstanding feature is that the quality of care and services provided in the general wards is of the same standard as that in the private wards. Fund raising has always been central to the Dufferin non-profit survival. With the support of the hospital's donors, the Katrak Wing has been raised to a seven storeys maternity, gynaecology and pediatric wing, keeping the original facade of the hospital intact.

PREPARING FOR PREGNANCY
There are lots of ways you can improve your chances of becoming pregnant. Staying fit and healthy by eating sensibly and taking regular exercise are the most obvious ways. Eating a variety of foods, with as much fresh food as possible, helps to ensure that you get all the vitamins and minerals you need. Also stopping smoking and reducing or stopping the amount of caffeine you drink are also important factors.

HELP FROM HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
You may also seek a check-up of your overall health if you are at all concerned. Your doctor can provide useful information about the best ways to prepare for pregnancy, stopping contraception and also about the impact of any disabilities, underlying medical conditions or prescriptive medicine. There may also be a requirement in some cases to be tested for German measles (rubella) before you try to get pregnant, as infection when you are pregnant can harm your baby, particularly in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

FOLIC ACID
Medical advice for all women planning a pregnancy is to take a daily supplement of folic acid. You should take 0.4mg (400 micrograms) of folic acid from the time you stop contraception, or as soon as you find out you are pregnant, until week 12 of pregnancy.

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED

We operate a 24-hour assessment room to deal with cases of emergency which can be found on the ground floor of Katrak Maternity Wing. It is important to bring your notes to all antenatal appointments as they contain important information about your care.
Women's bodies go through a lot of changes during pregnancy. But while some bouts of discomfort and irritation can be self-managed, others should be checked out by your doctor:

ABDOMINAL PAIN
While it's normal to have slight contractions through pregnancy (this is when you feel your stomach contracting and relaxing), if you experience a sudden pain that won't go away, please see a doctor at the hospital

PAIN WHEN PASSING URINE
This could be a sign of infection which will need treatment. Drink plenty of fluid and contact your doctor within 24 hours.

BLEEDING
Whilst bleeding in pregnancy can be normal, it can also be a sign that something is wrong, especially if it is accompanied by pain. Bleeding at five months could mean that that the placenta has implanted at the lower part of the womb and this can be dangerous for you and your baby. Contact your doctor straight away or the Emergency Room at the Lady Dufferin Hospital if you are at all concerned.

SEVERE ITCHING
While itching is common in pregnancy, severe itching without a rash (particularly in the last four months of pregnancy) can be a sign of a potentially dangerous liver disorder.

VAGINAL DISCHARGE
A discharge that is smelly or bloodstained may point to infection and should be referred to your doctor.

HEADACHES OR DIZZINESS
May indicate increased blood pressure which is dangerous in pregnancy. Contact us if you are at all concerned.

SWOLLEN ANKLES OR HANDS
Normally common but any sudden changes should be reported to your doctor or midwife as it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia - high blood pressure and fluid retention in pregnancy.

DIARRHOEA, VOMITING OR HIGH FEVER
Any sudden 'acute' illnesses should be referred immediately to your doctor or midwife. If at any time you feel your baby is moving around less frequently or slowing down contact us.

DURING LABOUR

Knowing about the stages of labour and what to expect can help you feel more in control when the time comes.

STARTING LABOUR
Sometimes labour can start early, before week 37 that is. Usually you will be able to tell it has started when contractions get more frequent and stronger. Another sign of impending labour is a 'show' - plug of mucus, which is usually small, pink and sticky, that has helped seal the womb during your pregnancy, comes away. You can however have a show a few days before you actually go in to labour. If you feel a continuous trickle or large gush of water from your vagina which means your water-bag broke. If you think your waters may have broken then put a sanitary pad on and visit the hospital. If you are having regular contractions every three to four minutes lasting between 40 to 60 seconds then visit the hospital. If you have had a previously quick birth or if you have not reached week 37 of pregnancy then you should visit the hospital before the contractions get too frequent.

INDUCING LABOUR
Labour can be induced if your baby is overdue or there is a risk to your own health or that of the baby's. Contractions are usually started by inserting a pessary into the vagina. Induction is always planned in advance so you will be able to talk it over with your consultant.

STAGES OF LABOUR AND BIRTH
There are three stages to labour. In the first stage, the cervix (neck of the womb) gradually opens up (dilates). The start of established labour to full dilation can take 12 to 18 hours for a first baby. Subsequent labours are usually shorter. If you can, try to sleep or take a warm bath to help yourself relax more readily. In the second stage, the baby is pushed down the birth canal and is born. Your doctor will help you find a comfortable position and will guide you when you feel the urge to push. In the third stage, the placenta is delivered. Your baby will then be thoroughly examined and weighed.

IF THINGS DON'T GO AS PLAN

At Lady Dufferin, we do everything in our power to ensure safe birth each time but there are times when things don't go quite as planned. Sometimes we have to induce labour if we think there is a risk to either mother or baby, or both. Similarly, if we discover a baby is breech (positioned feet first) we may advise you that a caesarean section may be the most appropriate way for your baby to be born. And if an infant is distressed, the birth may have to be assisted with the use of relevant equipment such as forceps or a vacuum (ventouse). All decisions about the safest way for your baby to be born will be made in partnership with you and your family.
In some cases, babies need special care following birth and this is done in our well-equip Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Unfortunately on other occasions, we have to support women who experience a still birth where often the causes are unknown. This is a particularly emotional and distressing time for the families concerned and, as trained professionals; we do everything we can to provide the necessary support and counselling for women.

As one of the largest institutes in Pakistan, dedicated to the care of women, we understand the sensitivities of female health and offer a comprehensive range of gynecological services. Put simply, gynecology is the clinical area focused on the health of the female reproductive system.

OVERVIEW OF SERVICES
Lady Dufferin Hospital is dedicated to the health of women and their families. We specialize in all areas of healthcare associated with the female reproductive system - known as gynecology. This section of the website lists the main areas of specialist investigations and treatments carried out within gynecology.

COLPOSCOPY
A colposcopy is an investigation to examine the vagina and the cervix. It is normally carried out on women with abnormal smear results. The procedure uses a colposcope - a magnifying instrument - to examine the cervix.

HYSTEROSCOPY
Hysteroscopy is a procedure that investigates the cause of abnormal bleeding from the uterus and various other intrauterine abnormalities.

GYNAECOLOGY ONCOLOGY
Lady Dufferin Hospital is a renowned centre for the diagnosis, treatment and care of gynecological cancer - known as gynecology oncology. Our professional team draws together leading consultant gynecologists, general surgeons, nurses as well as other specialist roles - all working together to ensure that our patients receive individual plans of treatment and care.

MISCARRIAGE
We provide a comprehensive service of investigation and treatment for recurrent pregnancy loss as well as supporting women throughout their pregnancy.

Neonatal means 'new born'. Neonatal Intensive Care Units like ours specialize in the care of premature babies, with low weight or who have a medical condition that requires specialized treatment.

THREE LEVELS OF CARE
within the unit, there are three different levels of care:

INTENSIVE CARE
Intensive care provided for babies who have serious problems, who are very premature (those born more than three months early) and/or has an extremely low birth weight (birth weight less than 1500 grams).

HIGH DEPENDENCY CARE
High dependency care provided for babies with less serious problems but need a great deal of observation and support.

LOW DEPENDENCY CARE
Low dependecy care provided for babies who do not require continuous observation and/or who are stable and growing.

STANDARDS OF CARE AT NICU

Within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we focus on providing high standards of care for both neonates and their families.

MISSION STATEMENT
Our aim is to provide high quality care for babiesat subsidized rates utilizing the best available resources and knowledge.
Babies will be cared for by an expert team of neonatologist, nurses and NICU Technicians. We value our staff and support their development through appropriate clinical supervision, for our babies. Teaching which promotes safe & effective care for our babies.

Couples who have been trying to have a baby for more than two years may require treatment for infertility.

WHAT IS INFERTILITY?

There are many reasons why you and your husband may be having difficulty conceiving. If you've been trying for two years, with no success - you should see a general physician, who will be able to help arrange some simple tests. However, if you've been trying for two years or more, it's best to come to us.

TYPES OF INFERTILITY
Infertility can be categorized two types: Primary and Secondary. Primary infertility covers around 40% of cases, and is when a couple have never conceived; whereas Secondary Infertility covers the remaining cases and is when a couple have conceived before, but are having difficulty the next time round.

TESTING
If we think you may be infertile, our specialist team of doctors and dedicated infertility nurses can run some tests at our very own Fertility Clinic. For women, we can perform blood tests to check your hormone levels, to make sure ovulation is taking place, ultrasound scan of your womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. For men, we'll need a semen sample, which we will test to count numbers of sperm and any other sperm abnormalities. Help to get yourself fit and healthy for your journey, also help to improve your fertility chances through lifestyle changes and medication.

CONFIDENTIALITY
All the details of your treatment at The Lady Dufferin Hospital are completely confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party without your permission.

Within Lady Dufferin Hospital, there are dedicated teams that work across the trust delivering vital support services to the main clinical areas of maternity, gynaecology, neonatal care and fertility.

SUPPORTING PATIENT CARE
Our imaging team carry out a wide range of urgent and routine examinations and diagnostic procedures. Each year, we perform over 18,500 examinations using the latest equipment and technology. Our pharmacy team provide and maintain the necessary supply of medication to all clinical areas. We also make sure medication is prescribed in the right dosage and at the right time for every individual patient.

IMAGING / ULTRASOUND DEPARTMENT
The department of ultrasound offers services that cater to the needs of inpatient, outpatient and outside referrals by providing best possible facilities. The department operates 6 days a week from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm and is equipped with 3 state of the art Doppler machines and 3 regular grey scale machines.
We cater to approx. 2000 patients a month. Services include ultrasound of abdomen, breast, gynecological and obstetrics emergencies, scanning of pre and post natal babies as well as transvaginal and color Doppler scanning, ultrasound guided Amniocentesis, Ascitic, and cyst aspiration are also performed.
We also provide basic ultrasound training course including transvaginal scanning to the doctors at LDH.

PHARMACY
The pharmacy is on the ground floor of the Katrak Maternity Wing and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Too many births inadequately spaced, or at too young or too late an age are a major cause of illness, disability, poor nutrition and premature death among women and children.
Special focus is emphasis made on imparting family planning, education and information to women to improve reproductive health. The Lady Dufferin Hospital, in collaboration with the Government, runs a programme directed towards a sustained educational campaign for low-income couples, offering them a wide range of contraceptives at a Family Planning Centre.
The Family Planning Centre was established in 1973. A year later it was expanded to include a Voluntary Sterilization Centre. In 1980, a Total CareService/Contraceptive Surgical Unit funded by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and John Hopkins programme for international Education in Gynaecology & Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) was set up. After two years, this was formally, converted into a RHS `A` Centre and now is more commonly referred to as the Family Planning Centre.
The Family Planning Department offers following services: